A Florida man has been charged with fatally stabbing his ex-partner after following her to another city where she was spending time with a friend putting up Christmas decorations.
Police responded to a stabbing incident at a residence in Lehigh Acres, Fla., on Saturday, Nov. 8, and discovered Zenaida Alvarez, 39, with multiple stab wounds, according to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.
Alvarez, who was not named during the news conference but was identified by family members to Gulf Coast News, died on the scene, according to the sheriff’s office.
Leosbey Cuesta de Armas, 31, was recognized by authorities as Alvarez’s ex-partner and the suspect in the killing.
According to investigators, Cuesta de Armas of Hilaleah, Fla., followed Alvarez to her friend’s house over the weekend, where she was chatting with her children and putting up Christmas decorations.
According to the sheriff’s office, Cuesta de Armas was hiding in the home’s pantry when a friend noticed him “glaring at her, holding a knife” through a small gap in the pantry door. When the witness “screamed in terror,” he allegedly pushed past her and stabbed Alvarez repeatedly, even after she fainted.
He then raced out of the house without saying anything, according to investigators.
Cuesta de Armas was detained on Sunday, Nov. 9, after reportedly fleeing to Hardee County and leading authorities on a chase before colliding with a pole in Polk County, according to the Hardee County Sheriff’s Office.
However, it appears that he was active on social media between Alvarez’s death and his arrest, uploading images and giving his followers an apparent false sense of his relationship with the victim.
A Facebook account with the name, description, and location of Cuesta de Armas posted a photo early Sunday morning of him with a woman who matches the description of Alvarez in her obituary.
The snapshot depicts the two of them on a beach, and two individuals congratulate and complement him in the comments. A third comment, however, depicts a person claiming Cuesta de Armas killed his relative.
“…my cousin has died, and my family is grieving. “I don’t know how that man had the courage to upload that photo,” read part of the comment, which was originally written in Spanish. “Please don’t comment my family is devastated by this tragedy.”
Alvarez was a mother of two, according to her family, who said she was well-liked and always willing to help others.
Cuesta de Armas is charged with second-degree murder and burglary with violence in Lee County, according to the sheriff’s office. He is also charged with aggravated violence on a law enforcement officer and fleeing with reckless disregard from Polk County.
As of Thursday, Nov. 13, no records for Cuesta de Armas could be found in Lee or Polk counties through online court document searches.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for additional information.
